Day three of the ATP Singapore Tennis Open marks the arrival of a few of the more well-known players in the draw, such as former top ten players Marin Cilic and Ernests Gulbis. We no doubt severely need these after the poor matches that have taken place over the first two days. We’re predicting all of Wednesday’s matches between this and a second article.
ATP Singapore Tennis Open Day 3 Predictions
Ernests Gulbis vs Roberto Marcora
Head-to-head: 0-0
Remember Ernests Gulbis? The guy many predicted to be a future World #1 and Grand Slam winner. He’s still around but far from his best with Italian Marcora in his way from making the second round. Until last week, the Latvian had lost a disappointing ten matches in a row, but fortunately for him his opponent isn’t in sparkling form either. This really could go either way and their rankings being #186 and #191 says all you need to know about how close this could be.
Prediction: Gulbis in 3
Alexander Bublik vs Altug Celikbilek
Head-to-head: 0-0
Fourth seed Alexander Bublik has come a long way the past few years and is now ranked inside the top 50 in the world, with many thinking his big game could push him even higher up the rankings this field and draw is one he could only dream of and a great chance at a maiden title. World #302 Celikbilek should be well out of his depth here and provide an easy opening match for the 23-year-old.
Prediction: Bublik in 2
Adrian Andreev vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-head: 0-0
Andreev shocked everyone with a first round win over South African Lloyd Harris, ranked over 340 places above him. Building off a great 2020 which yielded several ITF titles, the teenager is working his way up the rankings and is close to breaking the top 400. Popyrin will be another good test to see where the Bulgarian is really at, and while I think he’ll put up a good fight I think this might be one step too far.
Prediction: Popyrin in 3
Marin Cilic vs Taro Daniel
Head-to-head: 0-0
When the Croatian won the 2014 US Open many people thought he would build off it. Instead, he hung around the Top 10 for a few more years before making two more Slam finals in 2017 and 2018. Since then, however, it’s all been downhill with him being a shadow of his former self. Now ranked #44, he’s still only 32 years of age with time left to resurrect his career. This is a match where whilst Daniel’s gamestyle can make Cilic play more balls than he wants, this match and this week is a good chance for the world #44 to get back to where he belongs in the game.
Prediction: Cilic in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
